Giants send promising placekicker to Broncos

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants traded first-year kicker Brandon McManus to the Denver Broncos for a conditional draft pick next year.

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By Associated Press

recordonline.com

By Associated Press

Posted Aug. 27, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Associated Press

Posted Aug. 27, 2014 at 2:00 AM

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants traded first-year kicker Brandon McManus to the Denver Broncos for a conditional draft pick next year.

The Giants announced the deal around 4 p.m. Tuesday, the time teams needed to reach the NFL's 75-man roster limit.

Earlier in the day, the Giants had said that they were waiving McManus, who battled incumbent Josh Brown for the starting job.

However, the strong-legged McManus was traded later to the Broncos, who are in need of a kicker after Matt Prater was suspended for the first four games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy by drinking beer. He has been in the league's drug program, which includes alcohol, since a DUI arrest on Aug. 12, 2011.

McManus had made both of his field-goal attempts — from 47 and 46 yards — and both of his PAT tries in the preseason. He is second in the NFL this preseason with 10 touchbacks. McManus, who was in the Colts' training camp last year, scored a school-record 338 points at Temple.

"He's one of those guys that's going to be a lifer," Brown said of McManus. "He's going to be a 10-year guy, easily. He's got that kind of talent and he's got that kind of head on his shoulders."

In getting down to the 75-man limit, the Giants also placed safety Cooper Taylor (left foot) and receiver Marcus Harris (hip) on injured reserve.

The team also waived 13 other players, two with injuries — linebacker Justin Anderson (hamstring) and defensive end Emmanuel Dieke (knee).